Again, more of the same, Phillies, funny story

16Oct

Again, more of the same, Phillies, funny story

So last night on the way home from the runners club meeting I had to get gas. After filling up I exited the station and attempted a left turn where you weren’t technically supposed to do one. Well as I was navigating the truck through the narrow space AGAIN the truck bounces and stops abruptly. I can feel that the right front tire dropped a bit into what I can only assume was a drainage inlet on the curb. DAMN IT. So I throw it in reverse and manage to yank myself out of it with minimal wheel spinning. I curse myself as I am driving home about my recent driving f ups. Well this morning when I went out to get in the truck for work I saw the extent of the damage. Not only did the sidewall have a big streak of white on it, there also was a chunk of rubber missing from the sidewall as well as some damage to the rim of the wheel. It is going to require me to get the tire replaced. A weakened sidewall is nothing to screw with. I am hoping that the road hazard protection I bought with the tires will cover at least some of the cost. I’m not happy.

We got home just in time to watch the debate. It seemed like a lot of more of the same to me although I have heard some say they thought it was McCain’s best performance of the three which isn’t saying much in my opinion. This time around instead of “My friends”, “Joe the Plumber” took center stage for McCain. McCain told the story of how poor Joe wants to buy the plumbing business he has worked for and since the business makes more than $250,000 he could pay more taxes under Obama’s plan, wahhhhhhh! I really feel bad for the guy. Cut me a break. McCain threw this guy’s name out so many times it was embarrassing. The fact is the VAST majority of small business owners don’t make what “Joe” would, does it make sense to accommodate 5% or 95% of small business? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this out. Poor Joe, poor quarter of a million dollars per year Joe….

Anyway I don’t think the debate will do much to change people’s perspective either way. It actually has gotten to the point where it is frustrating to watch. The same scenario keeps getting repeated time and time again. McCain throws out a truck load of accusations, untruths and unadulterated bullshit and then Obama calmly and logically explains and debunks it and then McCain repeats it again, acting like he is deaf. I’m glad the debates are over.

I totally forgot the Phillies were on last night, I thought they played tonight. I woke up surprised and excited to see they took out the Dodgers easily and will be advancing to the World Series for the first time in 15 years when they lost to the Blue Jays. It would be awesome if the Phils could break Philadelphia’s 25 year drought in championships in any major sport. They may have the guns to do it.

A guy I know at the gym is a Naples police officer. He is a no nonsense guy with a dry sense of humor. Well we were talking about the recent cases of “skimmers” in our area. Skimmers are little devices thieves put inside ATM and gas pump slots to read people’s credit card information. Well he told me that he recently went to a gas station and was pumping gas. As he was pumping he noticed there was an additional swipe on his pump, sitting low. He looked around at the other pumps and none of them had this low swipe. He was sure he discovered a skimmer. So he grabs on to the potential skimmer, expecting it to pull off easily. It doesn’t give at first. He pulls a bit harder, it still isn’t moving. Well this guy is strong as an ox. He puts some force into and pulls again. This time the reader comes loose as well as the entire front of the gas pump! The cop is befuddled about how the skimmer could be so strongly attached. He goes in and talks to the attendant inside. He explains how there appeared to be a suspicious, low credit card scanner on the one pump without mention that he basically just destroyed the pump trying to remove it. The attendant pauses and says to him “That is for handicap people…” The cop left without another word.

4 comments

Sir Randall October 16, 2008 at 2:00 pm

Some people just can’t drive…

torrin October 17, 2008 at 11:34 pm

wow. you can really tell you have a nice, cushy job for the county where you never have to worry about where your next paycheck is coming from or how you are going to pay your employees. Geez shawn, open your freakin’ eyes man. Don’t you realize it wouldn’t just affect Joe, but also his ability to pay his employees, expand his business to create more jobs, and reduce the amount of money spent in the overall community. Small business drives the American economy. The chance to move to a country where anyone can open a business is the American dream. Small business owners work 7 days a week, often over 80 hours or more. How hard do you work for your money? How much of your day is spent dicking around versus putting in hard work for your employer? One of the great things about America is that you can achieve the American dream by working hard for you money, taking a risk and opening your own business where you are entirely responsible for your own success or failure. You either reap the rewards or deal with failure. When was the last time you took such a risk or where willing to accept such an awesome responsibility? Why don’t you go out there and open your own company and see how difficult it really is? Then we will see if your opinion of how much money a small business owner is entitled to make from their efforts changes or not. I didn’t realize you had become a communist in your old age Shawn! Damn dog, take some prozac, eat some oreos, and find the joy in life that comes with being fully responsible for your own destiny.

Duf October 18, 2008 at 2:07 am

An insulting and extremly disappointing comment that will be addressed outside of this blog.

Missie October 25, 2008 at 11:20 pm

I must say….I agree with Torrin. I hope you weren’t too hard on her! LOL